Page 1 of 2

Unusual Eureka reel

Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2021 1:28 pm
by OhMyGoodness
Image
I just missed this reel on ebay by a few pounds..... drat!
I wanted it because it is unusual. 4" size Hardy Eureka are rarer than the common 3 1/2" but this is the first time I've seen one with a Conquest type of centre drum release instead of the usual telephone latch. Perhaps it was a special order since it is a post-war reel and falls within the time the Conquest reels first appeared. Maybe the owner returned it to Hardy for alteration later after seeing the Conquest type.

Re: Unusual Eureka reel

Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2021 1:29 pm
by OhMyGoodness
Actually the seller said that it ran very well which is not the case with normal telephone latch reels like Eureka or Wallis no.2...
Pity this conversion isn't available for owners to change for better free running of their telephone latch reels.

Re: Unusual Eureka reel

Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2021 3:28 pm
by Dokterhoo
Hi,
If you remove the centre you'll probably see the orignal latch holes - if it had any...

Dok

Re: Unusual Eureka reel

Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2021 10:11 pm
by Paul F
That is a mystery, Hardy appeared to be very flexible with customer request, unless it was a clever home modification?
Shame it has been polished to death!

Re: Unusual Eureka reel

Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2021 6:03 am
by Bumble
Hi.
I have the same pin
Bumble
Image

Re: Unusual Eureka reel

Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2021 8:52 pm
by OhMyGoodness
Dokterhoo wrote: Thu Jul 08, 2021 3:28 pm Hi,
If you remove the centre you'll probably see the orignal latch holes - if it had any...

Dok
Perhaps the holes for the telephone latch are right for this too

Re: Unusual Eureka reel

Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2021 3:02 pm
by OhMyGoodness
Bumble wrote: Fri Jul 09, 2021 6:03 am Hi.
I have the same pin
Bumble
Image
How did you come by yours? Did you notice its difference at the time?

Re: Unusual Eureka reel

Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2021 4:19 pm
by Bumble
OhMyGoodness it came from a very well known user of cane living here in the South. I already had the latch version but this variant was so much better.
I know of 4 others identical to mine now there is a 6th very odd but very interesting
Bumble

Re: Unusual Eureka reel

Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2021 6:46 pm
by Spinner
Good evening gentlemen, I was the "lucky" bidder who won the Eureka on the dreaded ebay. I am in France so have not received the reel a yet as I had to have it sent to a friend in the UK. This information is most interesting and I am now even more keen to get the reel in Hand.

Re: Unusual Eureka reel

Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2021 8:13 am
by OhMyGoodness
I wonder if there is any enterprising reel maker, or machinist, who'd be able to make these conversion caps available. Can't be a huge job I'm sure. Must be many owners of Hardy telephone latch reels who'd enjoy the extra freerunning and take them to the river bank instead of being left in the display cabinet.